Swansboro – July 23, 2015
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the mackerel bite off Bogue Inlet is still going strong when it’s calm enough to get to live bottoms and reefs a few miles off the inlet. Anglers are hooking both spanish mackerel (some 5-7 lbs.) and kings, and both are falling for live menhaden and other baits on light wire leaders.
Anglers are still seeing a few cobia in the same areas. They’re biting the live baits along with lures like bucktail jigs that anglers can cast to fish they see cruising on the surface.
Dropping live baits and Gulp-tipped bucktails to structure in the same range is producing some legal black sea bass and flounder.
Anglers are also seeing a decent flounder bite inshore, where the fish are feeding around docks, bridges, inlets, and creekmouths. Live and Gulp baits will also fool the flatfish inshore.
Red drum are still prowling the marshes in search of food. Topwater plugs, Gulp baits, and cut and live baits have all been attracting attention from the reds recently.
Black drum and sheepshead are looking for their meals around inshore structure like dock and bridge pilings. They’ll bite live fiddler crabs dangled close to pilings and other vertical surfaces.
Ruby Conner with a 26″ red drum that she hooked on a live finger mullet while fishing near Swansboro with her brothers Jack and Curren and parents John and Carrie.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that anglers continue to see plenty of action with large spanish mackerel, king mackerel, and some dolphin at rocks and reefs 3-5 miles off the beachfront. Live menhaden slow-trolled around the structure are tempting bites from all three fish.
Amberjacks and barracuda are schooled up on higher-relief wrecks and AR’s in the area. Both will pounce on live baits and often take an interest in large artificials like tube lures, vertical jigs, and topwater plugs.
Justin Wood with an upper-slot red drum that struck a Falling Tide spinnerbait in a Swansboro marsh while he was fishing with Capt. Dale Collins of Fish or Die Charters.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf and pier bottom fishermen continue to connect with panfish like spot, sea mullet, and croaker while baiting up with shrimp and Fish Bites baits.
Spanish mackerel are feeding just off the beachfront, and they’re biting metal casting lures from the beach and pier and trolled Clarkspoons for boaters.
Anglers are seeing big numbers of king mackerel along with some dolphin while fishing reefs and rocks within 10 miles of the beaches. Live baits are tough to beat for both fish.
Flounder, black sea bass, and other bottom feeders are looking for meals around the same structure. They’ll strike baited bottom rigs or bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits.
Inshore, the red drum action remains strong in the bays and marshes of Bogue Sound. The reds are falling for topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, Gulps, and a variety of cut and live baits.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that live-baiters have landed a barracuda and a cobia while fishing from the end of the pier recently.
Those working Gotcha plugs from the pier have been connecting with good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Bottom fishing has been slow during the daytimes but is producing a mixed haul of sea mullet, croaker, and spots in the evening and early morning hours.
The water is 83 degrees.
